GERMAN OR BRITISH?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 18 March 1936, Page 7

GERMAN OR BRITISH?

ORDER FOR WIRE ROPE QUESTION OF A POOL HARBOUR BOARD TENDERS [Per Press Association. J AUCKLAND, March 17. A proposal to purchase wire rope H’Jiu uermany resulted in considerable discussion at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board when tenders fiom various firms, came under consideration. it was pointed out that for the quantity of wire rope required by the board, a tender of £428 was submitted by an Auckland firm for wire rope manufactured by a German firm, while the price quoted in the tenders received fiom .11 British firms was £517 in every case. After several members had spoken against any policy of buying German wire in preference to British, Mr. J. B. Donald said he certainly favoured the purchase of British goods by the board, but there was another aspect to be considered. It, was quite apparent from the fact that all the firms selling British wire submitted one price that there was a pool in existence. When ihese monopolies were formed bv the British manufacturers and prices* were submitted that could by no means compete with foreign, then the British manufacturer was not deserving of the board’s business. Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., said that while it was most desirable to purchase British goods in preference lo others, the board must, consider the fact that the British tefiders were considerably higher than the lowest submitted. He favoured a suggestion that the matter be deferred in order that the board members might have an opportunity of learning more about the German wire and the conditions under which it was manufactured. It was decided to defer consideration of the tenders until the next meeting of the board, in committee.